Automatic mechanism for operating drawers of automatic musical instruments



Aug.l 14, 1928.

H. J. LA JOIE AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR OPERATING DRAWERS OF AUTOMATICMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed oct. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l @Mffiw mmf Aug.14, 192s.

H. J. LA JOIE AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR OPERATING DRAwERs OF AUTOMATICMUSICAL INSTRUMENTS` 2 Sheets--Sheetl 2 27? Wertcl' d?, muy.; 1/1,7% myMm@ Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

y UNITED star-ss earner erica.

EUBERT J. LA JIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ATO PNEUMATC .ACU-)EONcor/Traun, or new Youri. u. Y.,

.A UGBQRATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC Musi-reunieron or'sn'efrrue DRAWER-s or AUTOMATIC MUSICAL IINSTRUMENTS.

Application iea october e, 1926. serial no. 139,259.

It iscustomary in automatic musical instruments, particularly vpneumatically 1 operated grand player pianos, to arrange the music sheetmanipulating mechanism in a drawer which can be moved in and out underthe instrument case.` This drawer is hcavyand sometimes cramps so thatthe opening and closing thereot is dil'icult, particularly tor a womanor child.

The object of the present invention is to provide an automatic`ineuianism under the control of the operator for opening or for closingor for both opening and closing` the drawer. To dol this, I secure apowerful pneumatic such'as a cylinder and piston on the bed ot themusical instrument and connect ythe moving member thereof to the drawer.The operation ot this pneumatic preferably is controlled bythe settingof the gearing which drawsthe music sheet forward or backward over thetracker-bar and this connection is preferably arranged so that' themechanism for operating the drawer will operate to open the drawer asthe 11e-rolling ot the music sheet takes place.

The drawer operating mechanism is also arranged to close the drawer asthe playing ot the music sheet commences. 'lhisclosing operation ot thedrawer operating mechanism is preferably controlled by a switch arrangedin convenient position on the drawer so that the operator can start themusic sheet in operation, adjust the tempo control, and then throw thedrawer control switch so that the automatic mechanism which closes thedrawer will work after the music sheet manipulating` mechanism has beenadjusted for the desired operation.

By these general combinations, the drawer can be closed or opened orboth opened and closed automaticalljif, adding to the 'comfort of theoperator.

rlhe best 'form of apparatus for practicing the invention now known isshown in the accompanying two sheets of` drawings, referring to whichFig. lisa general plan ot the mechanism with my improvement appliedthereto, the outline ot the piano case being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view partly in diagram; f Y

Fig. 3 is a detail ot the re-play switch;

\ l? 3a is a section through the movable part ot said switch; and

Fig. il is a detail ot the drawer control switch. Y f c Referring to thedrawings and in detail, D designates the drawer which has tracks runningon rolls secured to the bottom of the piano case so that it can be movedin or out in the usual way.

The drawer D is kept from cramping as. it is moved, by a shaft 10journalled on the bottom of the piano case, which shaft has bent ends1-11 forming levers which are connected by links 11G-11() to the'drawer.

The drawer is provided with the usual middle compartment inv which arearranged plungers or Vbearings for the music spool R, the aperturcdtracker bar T andthe take-up roll YW. rEhe apertures in the tracker barare connected by tubes to the player action which may be secured to thebottom oit the piano bed or which may be carried by the drawer as iswell understood T he usual pneumatic motor M is arranged i in the letthand compartment in the drawer. rllhis inotorr drives a crank-shaft 12having a sprocket gear 13,v which by sprocket chain 1li drives asprocketgear 15 seflured'on a driving` slialit 1G slidably journalled inpartiti-ons in the drawer. rthis driving shaft 16 'has a. pinion 17which can mesh with a gear 18 on the take-up roll `W, A clutch 19 issecured on said shaft 16 in position to engage or disengage with asprocket gear 2O loosely ournalled on the shaftv 16. The gear 2O by achain 21 drives a sprocket gear 22 secured on a shaft n8, which'carriestue right.

hand bearingv or spindle 24CV for the 'music spool.. T he lett end vorusual spring-pressed spindle 25 for the music spool is arranged in line.with spindle 2li. Any ordinary music spool B can be snapped in betweenand held in the bearings or spindles 2st and 25 in the usual way.

A pivoted lever 26 engages the clutch 19. This lever is connected by arod 27 Vto the music sheet control button or knob 28. As shown, thepinion 17 is inengagement with gear 18 and theinusic sheet S is beingdrawn forward over the tracker T for playing'.V It the music sheetcontrol button 28 is moved to the lett, the pinion 17 will 'bedisengaged axially Vrom'gear 18 and the clutch'19 will be engaged withthe Uear 20, whereby the music spool R will be rotated and the musicsheet S will be drawn backward over the tra^kcr bar T and rewound.

`The rod 27 connects by a link 29 to a lever 30 pivoted to a shaft 31journalled in the drawer partitions. This shaft carries a lever 32 atits rear end, which connects by a link 320 to a slidable rod 33.

A valve box V is secured to the rear of the drawer and carries a re-rollpneumatic P and a re-play pneumatic P. A slidable rod 33 is looselyarranged in wings projecting from the pneumatics P and P and is providedwith adjustable collars 34-34 which said wings can engage.

A re-ro-ll aperture 35 is arranged in the tracker T and is connected bytube 36 to the valve box V. Each music sheet is provided with a re-rollperforation 37. lVhen the perforation 37 uncovers the aperture 35, thereroll pneumatic P is operated and the music sheet operating gearing isset so that the re-winding or re-rolling will take place.

The take-up roll lV is provided with a groove fw, in which is itted alinger 38 secured on a small shaft 39, which shaft has a spring 40normally moving the linger 38 into tight enga-gement with the take-uproll lV. A small lever or finger piece 41 is secured on the shaft 39l inposition to engage a pivoted valve 42, which is pressed by a spring 43into Contact with a cut-off switch 44 which has a hole 45. The parts 41to 45 are Aarranged in the drawer in the vicinity of the tracker in theusual way. This switch and the parts 41 to 45 are shown in diagram atthe rear of the drawer to illustrate the operation.

A tube 46 extends from the hole 45 to a re-play switch RS. This replayswitch is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 3a. lVhen the replay switch isin the position marked off, the tube 46 connects by a tube 47 to thevalve chest of a switch pneumatic SP secured to Vthe rear -of thedrawer. The movable leaf of this switch pneumatic SP has an arm fittingon a rod 48 which has a collar 49. The rod 48 is connected to operate an'electric switch ES, which controls the usual electric motor whichdrives the exhaust or suction pump. The rod 48 extends forward and has abutton 480 on its end which forms a motor control which can bemanipulated by the operator. It the replay switch RS is in position aspreviously described, when the music sheet S is re-y wound, the openingis-uncovered and the motor is stopped.

The re-play switch RS is also connected by a tubev 5() to the valve boxV. It the replay switch is set to on position when the aperture 45 isuncovered, the re-playing' pneumatic P will be operated and the switchpneumatic SP will not be operated. This will start the playing operationover again whereby the piece of music represented by the particularmusic sheet in position will be re-played. This replaying will continueuntil the operator stops the mechanism.V

The usual tempo control and motor governor are also arranged in thedrawer as is well understood.

The parts previously described represent one well known form ofmechanism of parts in a drawer of the character described. Any otherknown arrangement can be used ,as desired. The arrangements have beendescribed in detail so that the cooperation of my improvementstherewithcan be understood. Y

Vith the usual arrangements it is necessary for the operator to pull outand push in the drawer. Y

The main object of the Vinvention is to control the position of thedrawer automatica-ll so that it will be in its closed position wliienplaying and so that it will automatically open when the playing is over.

To accomplish this purpose, tlie drawer is Vmoved to open or closedposition by a pneumatic which comprises a cylinder 51 secured to thepiano case and having a piston 52 connected by an adjustable rod 53 tothe drawer D. A pneumatic is preferably' employed as the operatingmechanism because it sometimes is 'desired to open the drawer whileplaying and this can be done against the pressure of the pneumatic. Avalve box 54 is secured to the piano bed and the same is connected by apipe 55 to the suction pump. A double valve 56 controlled by a diaphragm57 is arranged in the valve box 54 and is connected by a tube 58 to therear of the cylinder 51. Another rdouble valve 59 operated by adiaphragm 60 is arn ranged in another compartment connected by a tube 61to the front of the cylinder 51. A'tube 62 extends from the space underthe diaphragm 57 to a drawer controlv switch DC arranged in the drawerD. This drawer control switch DC connects by tube 63 to a hole 64 in ablock 65 of a setting switch SS arranged in the drawer. This switch SScomprises a valve disc 66 pivoted on the block 65. The disc 66 has anotch 67 which opens and closes hole 64, a stop 68 being employed tolimit the motion of the disc l66.` A flexible tube 69 extends from thespace under the diaphragm to a hole 70`in the block 65, which is openedand closed by a .hole 71 in the disc 66. The disc 66 is connected by 'alink l72 to alever 7 3 on the sha-ft 31. The details of thedrawercontrol switch DC are illustrated in Fig. 4. Y

The operation is substantially as follows: vAssuming the drawer to be inits outermost or front position, the operator places a music spool inposition and connects the music Sheet to take-up roll. He then loo fit)

throws the music sheet control button to the right and operates themotor control to start the suction pump in operation, so that the musicsheet will be drawn forward over the tracker. If the drawer controlswitch DG is in off positioii,tlie tubes 62 and 63 are not incommunication, and the dra-wer operating mechanism is out of operationas the music sheet is initially drawn forward over the tracker. Thisgives the operator the opportunity to set the tempo control. As soon asthe parts are properly in operation, the operator throws the controlswitch DC to on position. rlhis connects tube G2 and 63. Air is nowadmitted through openings 64, tube 63, tube 62 under diaphragm 57 whichlifts the Valve 56 to the position shown in Fig. 2. This connects thesuction or tension ofthe pump X through tube 58 with the rear of thecylinder 5l. lThis will draw the piston 52 to the rear and will closethe drawer. Air is 'admitted to the front of the piston 52 through pipe61 so that this operation can take place. This will close the drawerautomatically without any effort on the part of the operator. The drawercontrol switch DC may be set in on position if desired before theapparatus is started in operation but it is usual to start the musicsheet properly in operation and set the tempo lever before operating thedrawer control switch DC to close the drawer;

When the re-roll action starts as )reviously described, the set-tingswitch Stv is shifted so that the hole is uncovered and the hole 64 iscovered. This permits air to pass through tube 69 under the diaphragm.60 which will operate the valve 59. This will connect the suction pumpwith the front ioil' the cylinder 5l through the tube 6l, and

the piston 52 will be drawn forward and the drawer opened as the valve56 will move forward and connect the rear end of the cylinder to theatmosphere through tube 5S. 'Ilius as the re-rolling starts, the drawerwill be moved forward automatically Ato open position. If the ie-playswitch is off when the re-rolling is finished, the entire mechanism willstop operation andthe drawer will be left in its forward 'or openposition. If the re-play switch is on when the ire-rolling has beeneffected. the re-play pneumatic P will be operated and the gearing willvbe shifted so that the music sheet will be drawn forward again and asthis operation takes place, the setting switch SS will be moved to theposition shown in Fig. 2 and the valves 56 and 59 will be operated sothat the pneumatic 5l and into closed position. Thus the re-playing willtake place with the drawer in closed position.

The entire drawer operating mechanism 52 will pull the drawerv can belrcpt in an inoperative position by leaving the drawer control switchD() in oft position. Thus the operator has the automatic operation ofthe drawer under his control. i

Thisautomatic operation of the drawer vforms a pleasing addition to theusual meel tion, what I claim and desire V-to secure by Letters Patentis:-

l. In an automatic musical instrument, thecombinatioii of a slidabledrawer, music sheet manipulating vrmechanism carried by said drawer, andautomatic mechanism mounted on said instrument and connected to saiddrawer to open and close the same.

2. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination of aslidable drawer, music sheet manipulating.mechanism carried thereby, anda pneumatic mounted on said instrument and connected to said drawertofinove the same.

3. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a slidabledrawer carryingthe music sheet iiianigulating gearing, automaticmechanism for moving the drawer, and connections from the gearing forcausingthe mechanism to operate to open the vdrawer as the re-rolling ofthe music-sheet .tal-ies place.

4. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination of a.slidable drawer carrying the vmusic sheet manipulating gearing, apneumatic for moving the drawer, and a setting switch controlled by saidgearing for causin 0f the said mechanism to operate to open the draweras the re-rolling of the music sheet takes place.

5. In a piieumatically operated vmusical instrument, the combination ofa slidable drawer carrying lhe music sheet manipulating gearing, apneumatic mechanism for moving the drawer, and a control switch on thedrawer for controlling` the operation of thepneuniatic mechanism.

6. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination4 of aslidablc drawer carrying the music sheet manipulating gearing, apneumatic mechanism for moving the drawer, a setting switch con#`trolled by the gearing for causing the pneumatic mechanism to open thedrawer as the re-rollmg of the music sheet takes place, and

a control switch on the drawer for throwing the pneumatic mechanism intooperation to close the drawer.

7. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination of arslidablel drawer carrying the music sheet manipulating gearing, apneumatic mechanism for moving the drawer, and a setting switchcontrolled by the gearing for causing the pneumatic mechanism to operateVto open the drawer as the re-rolling of the music sheet takes place,which setting switch lalso sets the parts so that the pneumaticmechanism will operate to move the drawer inwardly.

8. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, the combination ot' aslidable drawer carrying the music sheet manipulating gearing, apneumatic mechanism for moving the drawer, a setting switch controlledby the gearing for causing the pneudrawer whereby to permit movement ofsaidV drawer by said pneumatic.

In testimony whereof Ifhave hereunto affixed my signature.

HUBERT J. LA JOIE.

